1 Late-Breaking News About Logic Pro 7 This document contains information about additions and changes made to Logic Pro 7 after the manuals were completed. Some are new or updated features, and others are corrections or changes to names, operations, or functionality. Please read this documentation carefully, as some of the information may supercede that of the Reference manuals. For the latest information about product updates, tips, and techniques, visit the Logic Pro website at http://www.apple.com/logic. General Changes This section outlines global menu and operational changes. Parameter Boxes All parameters that only have two states (on/off ) have been changed into checkboxes. Simply click on the box to activate (checked), or deactivate (unchecked) the parameter. Parameters that have been updated to operate in this fashion include: · Region: Loop, Clip Length · Chord Memorizer Object: Cable Split · Arpeggio: Repeat · Score: Interpretation, Syncopation, No Overlap, Lyric Menu Changes File > Export > MIDI Region as Audio File was renamed to File > Export > Region as Audio File, as this describes the function more precisely. The Audio > Audio Settings menu item was removed, as it was a duplicate of Logic > Preferences > Audio. The Logic > Preferences > Control Surfaces > Scan and Logic > Preferences > Control Surfaces > Install menu items has been moved into the local New menu of the Setup window (Logic > Preferences > Control Surfaces > Setup). 1 The local Matrix Editor menu item View > White Background was renamed to View > Bright Background. Movie Audio Extraction The audio track selection menu process (described in the manual) adds an unnecessary step when extracting audio from a movie file. If the movie file only contains one audio file, selection is superfluous. Use of the Options > Movies > Extract Audio from Movie function will automatically extract the audio (as an AIF file), and add it to the Audio window. The movie name will be retained, and used for the audio file. The Options > Movies > Extract Audio to Arrange function places the extracted audio (Region) onto the selected Arrange window track. Preferences This section outlines changes in Logic's preferences. File Format Option The Audio preferences of Logic 6 allowed you to change the bit depth of freeze files from the default 32 bit (float) to 24, or even 16 bit. The primary intent of this option was to allow the use of freeze files in place of bounced tracks, given the absence of the Export Track As Audio File function. As Logic Pro 7 offers this functionality, the Freeze File Format option is no longer required, and has been removed from the Audio preferences. To export a track as an audio file: Choose File > Export > Track As Audio File. A file selector opens, allowing you to set the bit depth and file name. The Export Track As Audio File function offers the same export functionality as the Freeze function in Logic 6, but track naming is more convenient and you can freely choose the file destination and format for each export. m Smart Loop Handling Option In Logic's Global > Editing preferences you will find the additional "SmartLoop handling of Scissor and Split by SPL " option, which determines how Logic Pro 7 handles the cutting of looped Regions. If you activate the option, you can cut the looped area of Regions (using the Scissors or Marquee tool or Split by SPL commands). Logic Pro 7 automatically creates Regions after--and if necessary--before the cut, ensuring that these areas remain identical. This allows you to split looped Regions without altering playback in the looped area. If the "SmartLoop handling of Scissor and Split by SPL" option is switched off, it is not possible to cut looped areas. Cutting the looped Region itself deactivates the Loop parameter in the Region Parameter box. 2 Song Settings The Song Settings contain an additional Audio pane, which offers the following two options: Playback Pre-Roll When this option is enabled, all start commands will force Logic Pro 7 to start playback a little earlier (shifted to the left). The exact pre-roll value is dependent on the current delay compensation value for plug-ins. This option ensures that transients which fall exactly on the start position are played back correctly. If this option is disabled, transients that fall precisely on the start position can be missed, or appear to be faded in. Pan Law The Pan Law value determines the amount of volume reduction to mono signals that are panned to the center position. If set to 0 dB, mono signals will seem louder when panned to the center position, in comparison with extreme left or right pan positions. If set to either ­3 dB or ­3 dB compensated, mono signals will seem equal in loudness, regardless of their pan position: · ­3 dB: A full scale mono signal (0 dBfs) will have a level of ­3 dB when panned to the center position. · ­3 dB compensated: A full scale mono signal (0 dBfs) will have a level of 0 dB when panned to the center position (or +3 dB when panned to extreme left or right positions). Songs created in older Logic versions always use the 0 dB option. Please note that switching the Pan Law value to ­3 dB will change the mix of such songs! AU Manager Logic Pro 7 uses Apple's AU Validation Tool to ensure that only Audio Unit plug-ins which pass the test are used in Logic. The scan process takes place automatically when you launch Logic Pro 7. You can see the results of the validation scan for all Audio Units plug-ins via the Logic Application menu: Preferences > Start Logic AU Manager. Note: Logic Pro 7 automatically quits before the Logic AU Manager is launched. Logic will automatically restart after you quit the Logic AU Manager. The Logic AU Manager allows you to disable Audio Units plug-ins that you don't want to use in Logic, even if they pass the test. Simply uncheck the corresponding checkbox in the Use column to disable any plug-in. You can store your choice of Audio Units plug-ins by clicking OK. 3 The results of the test are shown in the Compatibility column. Audio Units plug-ins that "failed" the validation test, can be enabled--but be aware that these plug-ins can cause problems. Use of plug-ins that have failed the validation can negatively affect the test results of subsequently scanned plug-ins, can cause Logic crashes or even lead to data loss (destroyed song files). We strongly recommend that you check the manufacturer's website for updated versions of Audio Units plug-ins that fail the validation. Note: If you press Control-Shift while launching Logic, the AU Safe Mode will be used: Only plug-ins that pass the validation test will be used; manually activated plug-ins that failed the validation test will not be available. Click "Reset & Rescan All" to run another validation test, after installing plug-ins/ updaters or moving components in the Finder, while Logic or the AU Manager are open. You can also rescan individual plug-ins--in cases where you've installed an updated version. Updated plug-in versions will automatically be tested the next time Logic is launched. They will be enabled automatically, if they pass the validation scan. Loop Browser The Apple Loops Browser also displays Acid and ReCycle Loops, and has therefore been renamed Loop Browser. Loops with sample rates that don't match the song sample rate can be used. Acid Loops don't contain "tags" like Apple Loops. Apple Loop tags identify the categories/styles that a Loop appears in, within the Loop Browser. In Acid Loops, this information is derived from the surrounding folder structure (especially the names of folders), which must comply with certain standards. This means that it's not possible to drag an individual Acid Loop file into the Loop Browser. As such, you need to drag the entire CD (or folder) that contains the Acid Loops into the Loop Browser. The Key pop-up menu was renamed Play In. The Follow Chord Track option was renamed Song Key. Display of Loops All loops that follow the song key and tempo are indicated by the following symbols in Logic: 4 Apple Loops Utility If you open an Audio Region with a length that does not match the bars or beats in the Apple Loops Utility, the following dialog appears: There are two possible reasons for the wrong length: · The audio recording was recorded at the song tempo, but not cut correctly. In this situation, you can shorten the recording, via the dialog. · The loop uses a different tempo: in this case, you can set the length of the audio loop in the Loop length box and choose "Use set length." Support of Apple Lossless Files Logic Pro 7 supports Apple Lossless files. This lossless file format uses an audio codec that retains the full quality of uncompressed CD audio, while requiring only about half the storage space. The Apple Lossless Encoder can be used for importing music from CDs in iTunes, for example. Logic Node Application The Logic Node Application can't process Audio Units plug-ins. It is, however, possible to split tracks that use Audio Units into two halves. The first plug-in (and up to the last Audio Unit on the track) is processed locally, and remaining plug-ins (Logic native) may be processed on a Node. As an example: Use of an Audio Units instrument which is processed with Logic's built in plug-ins. The Audio Units instrument plug-in is processed on the host, and the Logic plug-ins are processed on a Node. Loop Length Editing Logic's Loop function has been enhanced with an easy to use Loop Length Editing function. To set the length of a looped Region: 1 Move the cursor to the end of the Region that you want to loop. The cursor will change into a circular arrow (a loop) when positioned in the upper area of the Region. 2 Click-hold and drag the end of the Region to the desired length. 5 Note: Whenever you move the cursor into the upper half of the looped area, it changes to a circular arrow, allowing loop length changes. If you want to select the looped Region (to move it, for example), click in the lower half of the looped area. You can also Shift-click in the upper loop area to select the Region. The cursor will only turn into the circular arrow (and offer the Loop Length Editing functions), when the track is of sufficient height. If the track height is minimal, Optionclick on the end of the Region to access the Loop Length Editing function. This also applies if automation data is visible on a track. Important: Deactivation of the Region Loop parameter resets the loop length. The next time the Loop parameter is used, the Region is repeated until it encounters another Region on the same track or the Song End point is reached. Create Multiple Tracks This facility, accessible via the Tracks > Create Multiple menu option in the Arrange window, does exactly what it says. When selected, a dialog box opens, allowing you to choose the: · Driver: This pull-down menu allows you to select the audio hardware driver that you wish to use for your newly-created tracks. · Track Type: This pull-down menu allows you to select between Audio, Audio Instrument, and Auxiliary tracks. · Number of Tracks: Type in the desired number of tracks. Eight is the default. · Mode: Simply click on the desired Mono or Stereo radio button, to create multiple mono or stereo tracks of the chosen type. The Create Multiple Tracks function is intelligent in the way it handles tracks, and underlying Audio Objects. To explain; imagine a song that contains four audio tracks in the Arrange, but there are actually eight Audio Objects set up on the Environment's Audio Layer. Use of the Create Multiple Tracks function to add another four tracks to the Arrange will work as expected. The four existing tracks use Audio Objects 1 to 4, and the newly-created tracks use Audio Objects 5 to 8. Using the same example, but adding eight tracks with the Create Multiple Tracks function, behaves a little differently. The four existing tracks use Audio Objects 1 to 4. The newly-created tracks use Audio Objects 5 to 8, and new Audio Objects (9 to 12) are automatically created on the Environment's Audio Layer. This facility makes the setup of additional tracks much faster than in previous Logic versions, where new Audio Objects and Arrange window tracks needed to be created, and assigned, before use. 6 Control Surfaces (Controller Assignments) The Easy View of the Controller Assignment window has been simplified. The Control Name field has been removed, because Easy View is generally used for unsupported control surfaces--such as the controllers on your master keyboard or other fader boxes. The Track parameter allows you to choose between selected (which is the default, if creating assignments on the selected track) or a fixed track number (if you want to set up your controls as a mixer surface). The Learn Message button has been renamed to Learn Mode (because you can create multiple assignments while it's enabled). Assignments crea ...